Затерянный мир
Who could have Foreseen it?
IrememberthatasIdroppedofftosleepmylastrecollectionwasthatChallengerwassquatting,likeamonstrousbull-frog,bythefire,hishugeheadinhishands,sunkapparentlyinthedeepestthought,andentirelyoblivioustothegood-nightwhichIwishedhim.
ButitwasaverydifferentChallengerwhogreetedusinthemorning—aChallengerwithcontentmentandself-congratulationshiningfromhiswholeperson.Hefacedusasweassembledforbreakfastwithadeprecatingfalsemodestyinhiseyes,aswhoshouldsay,"IknowthatIdeserveallthatyoucansay,butIprayyoutosparemyblushesbynotsayingit."Hisbeardbristledexultantly,hischestwasthrownout,andhishandwasthrustintothefrontofhisjacket.So,inhisfancy,mayheseehimselfsometimes,gracingthevacantpedestalinTrafalgarSquare,andaddingonemoretothehorrorsoftheLondonstreets.
"Eureka!"hecried,histeethshiningthroughhisbeard."Gentlemen,youmaycongratulatemeandwemaycongratulateeachother.Theproblemissolved."
"Youhavefoundawayup?"
"Iventuretothinkso."
"Andwhere?"
Foranswerhepointedtothespire-likepinnacleuponourright.
Ourfaces—ormine,atleast—fellaswesurveyedit.Thatitcouldbeclimbedwehadourcompanion’sassurance.Butahorribleabysslaybetweenitandtheplateau.
"Wecannevergetacross,"Igasped.
"Wecanatleastallreachthesummit,"saidhe.
